平原中的异象
以西结书三十七章1至14节
1耶和华的灵（注：原文作“手”）降在我身上，耶和华藉他的灵带我出去，将我放在平原中，这平原遍满骸骨。
2他使我从骸骨的四围经过，谁知在平原的骸骨甚多，而且极其枯干。
3他对我说：“人子啊，这些骸骨能复活吗？”我说：“主耶和华啊，你是知道的。”
4他又对我说：“你向这些骸骨发预言说：‘枯干的骸骨啊，要听耶和华的话！
5主耶和华对这些骸骨如此说：我必使气息进入你们里面，你们就要活了。
6我必给你们加上筋，使你们长肉，又将皮遮蔽你们，使气息进入你们里面，你们就要活了。你们便知道我是耶和华。’”
7于是，我遵命说预言。正说预言的时候，不料，有响声，有地震；骨与骨互相联络。
8我观看，见骸骨上有筋，也长了肉，又有皮遮蔽其上，只是还没有气息。
9主对我说：“人子啊，你要发预言，向风发预言说：‘主耶和华如此说：气息啊，要从四方（注：原文作“风”）而来，吹在这些被杀的人身上，使他们活了。’”
10于是，我遵命说预言，气息就进入骸骨，骸骨便活了，并且站起来，成为极大的军队。
11主对我说：“人子啊，这些骸骨就是以色列全家。他们说：‘我们的骨头枯干了，我们的指望失去了，我们灭绝净尽了。’
12所以你要发预言，对他们说：‘主耶和华如此说：我的民啊，我必开你们的坟墓，使你们从坟墓中出来，领你们进入以色列地。
13我的民哪，我开你们的坟墓，使你们从坟墓中出来，你们就知道我是耶和华。
14我必将我的灵放在你们里面，你们就要活了。我将你们安置在本地，你们就知道我耶和华如此说，也如此成就了。这是耶和华说的。’”
信息分享
再看这段经文的背景和上下文，这个异象的要旨是论及以色列民的将来，并与他们现今的光景对比。以西结始终向他们承诺，神终有一天必复兴他们，让他们重回国土。他曾经预言众城将得以重建，神会亲自带领他们。对于这群被掳至远处异教国家的百姓来说，这些预言简直是不可能的梦。
在耶路撒冷沦陷，他们被掳的那刻，他们仅存的信心似已被摧毁，神要借着这个异象带给他们新盼望。他们就像山谷里的那堆骸骨；神以直接了当的问题挑战以西结的信心：「以西结，你怎么想？你认为这些骸骨能够复活吗？」
答案显然应当是不！但以西结因为与神有紧密的交通，便回答说：「主啊，你是知道的，在你凡事都能。」于是，神吩咐他：「向这些骸骨说预言。」以西结依照神的吩咐去做，散开的骸骨便开始连接起来。这可能喻意神会将祂的百姓聚合起来，然后才领他们重回国土。许多人相信，神在今天正重演祂的作为。
但这些骨头和骸骨仍然没有生命。于是神吩咐以西结又向风发预言，「风」这个字的希伯来文，与「灵」是同一个字。如今，新生命奇迹般地出现。在今天选读的最后几节经文中，神亲自指出，这就是神的灵能作的事，祂能够将新的生命，带给那些死在罪中的人。这个奇妙的真理至今仍然没有改变。当人听见又相信神的话，神的灵便会赐他新生，他就能重生。多么宝贵的信息！多么奇妙的救恩！这个异象带出了一个非常宝贵的真理。
VISION VALLEY
Ezekiel 37: 1-14
1 The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.
3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.
8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’”
10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’
12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.
14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’”
Message
Looking at it in its context, it again focuses on the future of the people of Israel as contrasted with their existing conditions. Ezekiel had been promising them that God would one day restore them to their own land. He had spoken of the cities being rebuilt and of new leadership under God’s hand. To the people who were slaves in a foreign heathen country far away from their ancestral homes, all this seemed an impossible dream.
When Jerusalem fell and they were transported, any faith they had seemed to have been shattered. This vision was one of God’s ways of trying to bring Israelites new hope. They were like those dead bones in that valley. God challenged Ezekiel with a direct question, “What do you think Ezekiel? Do you think these bones will ever live again?”
The obvious answer might have been a strong “no”, but Ezekiel was in touch with God and he seems to have said, “Lord you know. You can do anything.” Then God gave a direct command, “Speak to these bones.” As Ezekiel did what God told him to do and say, the bones started to come together. It could be a picture of God gathering the people together before taking them back to their land. Many believe God is doing it again today.
But the bones, the skeletons, still had no life. Then God told Ezekiel to speak again, this time to the wind - it is the same word as “Spirit”. Now new life began to appear in a miraculous way. In the last verses of our reading, God Himself said this is a picture of what the Spirit of God can do. He can bring new life to those who are dead in sin. It is still wonderfully true today. Where the word of God is given and believed, new life comes through the Spirit of God and that person is born again. What a wonderful message. What a wonderful salvation. Only a vision back then, but a tremendous illustration of the truth.